Amusement Park.
"One of the places that could give us adventures and memories that could last for a long time. A place where we could forget our problems and just have fun."
Some people thought of this place for entertainment purposes only, but some thought of it as their favorite place--just like Senthie Salvador. But would it still be her favorite place if she happen to have an awful memory of it?
*************
Three days had passed and it was already Sunday. SENTHIE wondered if it was a coincidence or the destiny leading her to meet Jimhuesh today since it was also Kassandra's first day at Fashion Sen's, so there would be no excuse for backing out. Senthie and Cecile could take a half day off since there would be someone who would look after the store now in their stead--their part-timer.
Kassandra Taylor wasn't just their part-timer. She was also the face of Fashion Sen's.
In the contract enclosed were the few conditions set by Kassandra:
1) Kassandra Taylor will work as a part-timer at Fashion Sen's with the condition of being the face/model/endorser of the brand.
2) Kassandra Taylor, as the face/model/endorser of Fashion Sen's, has the right to wear/own each of the garments designed by Senthie Salvador.
3) Kassandra Taylor has the right to refuse/skip work whenever she pleases.
While Fashion Sen's only had one condition--Fashion Sen's has the right to break the contract if any by a certain degree Kassandra Taylor has done something (intentional/unintentional) damage to the brand's reputation. Kassandra Taylor will be also charged tenfold the amount of the damages inflicted on Fashion Sen's as the penalty.
The contract had been signed by both parties yesterday.
"Bes, are you okay?" Cecile asked as soon as they stepped out of Fashion Sen's.
"Honestly, no." Senthie sighed, still walking. "Is it really okay to leave Kassandra alone at the store? It's her first day, after all."
Cecile puffed. "Come on, bes, it's okay. The job isn't even that hard. She only just has to scan the barcode and ta-da! All done! Besides, we will be only gone for a bit--not the entire day."
Senthie sighed again and gripped the strap of her sling bag. "You're right. I shouldn't worry. Maybe what I have to be worried about is what to come next when we meet him."
Cecile giggled and linked an arm with Senthie as they headed to the parking lot. "Come on, let's go! I'm sure you're excited about the rides!"
She smiled. "Thank you for coming with me, bes. I just don't wanna be alone with him in my favorite place."
Enchanted City, or so, an amusement park was Senthie's favorite place. Here, going on extreme rides, such as the roller coaster and drop tower could make her heart beat faster and tremble in thrill as she gets an adrenaline rush. Conquering her fear of heights, she believed she could be the bravest version of herself. So, to avoid unnecessary memories with Jimhuesh in her favorite place, Senthie tried to convince him to change their meeting location, but to no avail, he didn't reply and even dodged her calls.
-------------------------
"It's Sunday today, right?" Senthie asked as soon as she turned her car into a narrower driveway--two kilometers drive to Enchanted City.
"Yeah, are you also wondering why is there no traffic? It's not only the weekend, but it's also Sunday! I'm expecting to see heavy traffic, but why are we the only car going this way?" Cecile said as she surveyed the area.
The driveway was curved like the letter S. The Mahogany trees that were each on both sides near the sidewalk that were lined up two yards apart were like nature welcoming their visitors. Senthie rolled down her window. Seeing the tree branches sway gracefully and hearing the rustling sound of the leaves while feeling the wind blow across her face was a thing that could relax her nerves. She had wished they could pull over and enjoy the fresh air instead.
"Your name, ma'am?" asked the guard in a navy blue uniform standing proudly by the massive steel grill gate entrance as soon as they arrived.
"Can I ask why are you asking my name?" Senthie said.
"The whole Enchanted City is rented out by one of our VIPs, so if your name is not on this list... " He took out a piece of paper in his chest pocket, and when Senthie's gaze went to it, he then put it back again and continued, "I'm afraid I can't open the gate for you."
"Don't tell me Mr. VP is that VIP?" Cecile huffed. "He sure is trying to impress you, bes."
Senthie's brows furrowed. "I'm sure he's just flaunting his wealth."
"So, may I know your names please?" the guard asked as he leaned over to look inside the car, perhaps to see Cecile.
"Oh, yeah, sure." Senthie smiled. "Kindly check if Senthie Salvador and Cecilia Ramos are on the list."
The guard stood straight and pulled out the piece of paper once again to check if their names were on the list. He squinted his eyes as he read aloud the names. He flashed a wide smile at Senthie before he unlocked the gate with a key and used a remote to open it. As if it was a curtain, the gate slid open to each side as a little squeak of metal echoed.
"You may enter now, madams. I hope you enjoy your stay at Enchanted City!"
-----------------------
Senthie and Cecile were now waiting for Jimhuesh for approximately fifteen minutes in front of the carousel placed in the center of the Enchanted City.
"Ms. Senthie?" a voice of a man said coming from behind.
"Oh, hi," were the words that came out of Senthie's mouth as soon as she laid her eyes on the most unexpected person she could ever see at this moment. She laughed awkwardly and nervously. "You're unexpectedly here, too, I see."
It was Rychie.
"Why are you here?" Cecile interrupted. Her eyes were wide and her voice was almost as if she was excited rather than surprised to see her crush.
"Wait, you know each other?" Jimhuesh who was beside Rychie asked with an amusing smile.
"They were my customers," Rychie answered. "You didn't tell me you have invited other people."
"He's right. And you didn't tell me either that you were bringing someone with you," Senthie snorted as she gave Jimhuesh a cold stare. Everything made sense to her. She finally understood why he insisted to hang out with her. He wanted her to meet Rychie. It was to make her uncomfortable and embarrassed.
"What did she mean, Jim?" Rychie asked with furrowed brows. "Is this a set-up double date?"
Jimhuesh laughed. "If you want it that way, it's fine."
"This isn't funny, Jim," Rychie uttered sternly as if it was his way to warn him.
"Apologies, but you weren't wrong. I set you up with Ms. Senthie on a blind date, but unexpectedly, you've already met each other."
Senthie huffed. "What are you even talking about? This isn't what I came here for, sir. Are you being serious right now?"
"If I may interrupt, sir. I believe that Senthie and you have something serious to talk about. I don't think it's the right thing to do to pair her up with your friend," Cecile inferred.
"I'm confused. What is happening here? Might wanna enlighten us, Jim?" Rychie said.
"Fine." Jimhuesh sighed in surrender. "I invited Ms. Senthie here to talk. My original plan was to speak with her over dinner, but it seemed inappropriate so I came up with another idea. I thought it would be best if we aren't alone, so I told her to bring Ms. Cecilia with her, and you with me, but I knew you wouldn't agree to come with me that's why I asked you where would you want to hang out, and you chose this place, and that's how we ended up all here."
Senthie laughed sarcastically. "And you seriously think this is appropriate?"
"Yes. If we are to be accompanied by our friends, your boyfriend wouldn't mind it."
Senthie did her best not to laugh but Cecile burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Jimhuesh asked.
"You were worried about her boyfriend?" Cecile answered with a question, still laughing. "Worried about her non-existing boyfriend?"
Jimhuesh wrinkled his forehead. "What? That Kenzo is not her boyfriend?"
Senthie's eyes widened a bit as she laughed. "You even remembered his name. But he's not my boyfriend."

"I have a sharp memory. But why didn't you say he wasn't your boyfriend?"
"Because you didn't ask. You just assumed he was my boyfriend," Senthie answered.
"But you didn't deny it either, what was I supposed to think, then?" Jimhuesh let out an exasperated sigh. "Never mind. Let's just all go grab some snacks over there." He cocked his head a bit.
After several minutes, their orders at J. Ko Donuts had been served and completed. Senthie chose the matcha green tea and alcapone flavor. Strawberry-filled donuts for Cecile, coffee mocha for Rychie, and Jimhuesh, the same as Senthie's.
"So, you two have the same taste, " Cecile stated with giggles. "You've ordered exactly the same."
"I bet he copied me," Senthie said and then was about to take a bite of her matcha-flavored donut when she saw that Jimhuesh was about to do the same as her. "See? He's copying me even now."
Jimhuesh halted and smiled flatly. "I wasn't copying you, Ms. Senthie. It just happened that you ordered first, and it was just a coincidence that I was about to eat my donut at the same time as you."
"Yeah, yeah," Senthie sang and then took a bite of her donut.
Cecile chuckled, Senthie and Jimhuesh's gazes went to her, including Rychie.
"I can see that you're a happy person, Ms. Cecilia, you seem to laugh most of the time," Jimhuesh said with an obvious sarcastic smile.
"Isn't that a good thing, sir?" Senthie interjected with obviously a sarcastic smile, too.
Cecile laughed even more, and so Senthie and Jimhuesh glared at her. She then averted her gaze to Rychie instead and said, "uh, Rychie, is it?"
Rychie nodded. "Yes."
"Do you want to eat at the other table?" Cecile asked with brows raised.
"Uh, no," he answered with a tone of a question.
Cecile chuckled awkwardly and narrowed her eyes to Rychie without saying anything, but her gaze said everything. Senthie thought that her best friend was making a move on Rychie in the most unthinkable situation. She didn't want to be alone with Jimhuesh but she had to--to end this tiring day and go back to Fashion Sen's as soon as possible without even enjoying the rides.
"Uh, actually, I do," Rychie agreed which seemed to be forced.
Cecile smiled victoriously. "Good, let's go."
They moved to the furthest table from Senthie and Jimhuesh's which was three tables apart.
"Can we talk about it now?" Senthie said after she cleared her throat.
Jimhuesh nodded. "What is the truth behind the name Rinana Gomez?"
Senthie sighed. "It was my former name, I mean, my birth name."
He folded his arms and leaned his back on the chair. "So you knew Rychie even before you became his customer?"
"How did you even know that? Rychie surely didn't even know Rinana."
"You're talking as if Rinana is another person. Why did you change your name?"
"How did you know I was Rinana?"
"Answer me first, why did you change your name?" he asked without a beat.
"Well, it's none of your business. I don't have to tell you that."
"Fine, then I will not answer your question either."
Senthie huffed. "Fine, then. I guess this is the last time I will be seeing your face. In the future circumstances concerning business matters, you may send your secretary in your stead."
Senthie stood up and called one of the J. Ko staffs. "I want these to be bagged, please, " she said politely as she pointed at her remaining donuts.
"No!" Jimhuesh's voice was a bit raised. "Sorry for the trouble, you don't have to bag them, she will eat them now or else..." He turned his gaze to Rychie, then back to Senthie, and smiled.
Senthie smiled at the staff. "Please don't pay attention to him and kindly bag these donuts for me."
"Yes, ma'am, please give me a moment, I'll quickly go get a bag for your donuts."
As soon as the staff went off, Jimhuesh called Rychie. "Remember the girl we were talking about?"
"What do you think you're doing?" Senthie asked, sounding desperate but Jimhuesh ignored her and continued, "that girl was her!"
Rychie chuckled. "No way, are you crazy? They are not the same person. From their names and looks, they're totally different."
"Are you satisfied now?" Senthie grunted as she narrowed her eyes at Jimhuesh whose face left dumbfounded.
The staff came and excused herself as she immediately put the donuts in the brown paper bag and gave it to Senthie.
"Thank you, miss," Senthie said and let the staff disappear to the counter. She then turned her gaze to Cecile who was now coming toward her with a worried face. "Let's go, bes. We need to get back to the store now."
She wanted to leave as soon as possible, not wanting to taint her favorite place with any more distaste.
"Wait, Ms. Salvador," Jimhuesh called desperately.
Senthie turned to see Jimhuesh with her cold gaze. He was now standing, his face unreadable, and his eyes were fixed on Senthie's.
"I hope to never see your face again... As you've promised." Senthie forced a smile and then turned her back on him as she grabbed Cecile's hand. "Let's go."
"I'm beyond disappointed, sir, " Cecile uttered before she let the glass door close.
_____________________________
Hello, Noomiells!
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you liked it. :D
Did you expect Kassandra to volunteer as the Fashion Sen's endorser?
How about Jimhuesh bringing Rychie to Enchanted City?
Do you think Jimhuesh will never bother Senthie again?
I would like to know your opinion. Please, let me know! :D